Wintry Night by Qiao Li

Author:Qiao Li
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LIT008000, Literary Criticism/Asian/General, FIC000000, Fiction/General
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 2002-08-27T16:00:00+00:00

After taking Miaoli, the Japanese army remained there just a few days. The army proceeded to divide and spread out in different directions to sweep the countryside. The main force advanced south. In the middle of the tenth lunar month, Japanese warships bombarded Kaohsiung as Japanese troops stormed ashore to attack Tainan city in a pincer movement with the troops coming from the north. There were no Chinese or local forces capable of continuing the fight. On the nineteenth day of the tenth lunar month, General Liu Yungfu and his son bid a tearful farewell to Taiwan. Within two days, the Japanese forces entered Tainan. Anti-Japanese resistance in Taiwan entered a new phase.

The might of the Japanese army began to be felt in the small villages and settlements in the remote mountainous areas. The Japanese were determined to wipe out all resistance. At this time, their colonial government divided Taiwan into administrative districts; Miaoli was part of the central district of Taichu, with Taizhong as its capital. All villages of a certain size within the district were in turn to have an administrative official.

Great Lake was one such village, but the official dared not take up his duties because all resistance in the Miaoli area was centered there. The remnants of several armies had taken refuge to escape the onslaught of Japanese forces.

Liu Ahan remained by Qiu Mei’s side as he recuperated. They passed a whole month in their hiding place below the vine-canopied tree, and they survived by living off the land. Qiu Mei’s medical skills and his ability to use herbs were impressive; his severe wound healed rapidly. The two of them, united by their common plight, then slipped away to Great Lake and very quickly joined up with the volunteers because they ran into Three Chops there.

“Ahan, this time I demand that you and your comrade stay.”

Qiu Mei fixed his wide-open eyes on Three Chops.

“Sergeant, isn’t the situation …” started Ahan.

“The Japs have Great Lake and South Lake surrounded,” said Three Chops, looking a bit worried.

“Great Lake sits on the edge of a huge mountainous area. Can they surround it?” asked Qiu Mei.

“They don’t have to, in the mountains there are natives who hunt heads,” interjected Ahan.

“Not anymore,” said Three Chops. “We’ve made contact with the people in the mountains, and they’ve said that they won’t kill us Chinese from the plains.” Three Chops remained silent for a time. “Of course, if you want to get away it’s easy enough to do. But why should you? Why leave? This is the land our forebears opened. I hate the idea of them eating our grain. I heard that all of Taiwan along the main north-south route is under Japanese control.”

When they were alone together, Qiu Mei tried to persuade Ahan that the right thing to do was go back to Fanzai Wood for his wife. Ahan refused. Qiu Mei continued to try to persuade him. Ahan asked him to accompany him, but Qiu Mei thought it best that he remain with the guerrillas.

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